Talking to the media, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that America is pressurizing Pakistan to end relations with China.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday that the US is sending a message to Pakistan through various channels to break ties with China. Qureshi was asked how Washington is pressurizing Islamabad. Talking to Geo News, Qureshi said that Pakistan has its own interests and would like to strengthen ties with the US as well.
He said that if we are friends of China, it does not mean that we are not friends of America. Pakistan’s foreign minister claims that China has never asked him to break ties with America. He said that China’s control policy is going on at the global level. China is a rising power right now and could possibly overtake the US in the next few years hence the fear in the West.
Some people want to harm CPEC
On China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Qureshi said whether one likes it or not, CPEC is our need. It is our economic corridor for energy and trade. It has to reach its end. He said that CPEC will move forward at all costs and there will be no pressure on Pakistan.
Qureshi said that obstacles are being created and that is why we have made arrangements to ensure the safety of the project. There are people who can harm it. He said that Indians and other powers are scared of its success. On the issue of Afghanistan, Qureshi said that Pakistan wants peace and stability there and does not want to see the attack and occupation of Kabul.
Afghan government to settle issues with Taliban
He advised the Afghan government to show flexibility in its approach and settle their issues by sitting with the Taliban. He said the Taliban had been demanding the withdrawal of foreign forces for a long time, which is underway and will be completed soon. Qureshi said both the Taliban and President Ashraf Ghani and his allies are Afghans and they have to decide about their future.
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